Thx CrazyCat and Marcellus

Reading your responses has helped me realise my true concern. Not so much that DD forms that tv watching habit (fairly confident I would never allow that to happen) but moreso the impact of flashing lights on a plasma screen (in a room with not the greatest natural light) on her developing eyes and brain.

CrazyCat your comment about over-stimulation was something I hadn't really thought of and probably should have. Those flashing lights are probably a lot to take in at less than 4 months! I haven't heard/read anything about links between tv and ADD or ADHD so can't comment.

Thanks Marcellus your comments and the quoted material was helpful. My DD also loves our face to face time. I wonder how she isn't sick of the sight of me smiling and kissing and cooing at her yet! But its a good reminder that parents faces are the healthy alternative to images on a screen!

Having said all that, for older children, I wouldn't begrudge parents who allow their children (under 5's) to watch tv. Subject to the length of time and the content. My gorgeous nephew has just turned 5 and when I babysit him he brings a dvd to watch. Sure we do other things but he has always had tv time. His imagination and development doesn't seem to have suffered. His favourite dvds are all documentary style programmes: The Blue Planet series is his favourite but his latest thing is dinosaurs. He brought over a 40 min dvd on the Jurassic period the other day but spent the duration of the dvd explaining the different dinosaurs and how they became extinct to me! He says he is going to be a paleantologist when he grows up!

Thanks again guys. I think I will do a little internet research on the effect of the flashing lights and images on babies (less than 6 months maybe) eyes and brain development.

Cheers